Toure shines in leading role

Home strike: Dennis Bergkamp acknowledges the crowd following his first-half goal

By Henry Winter

12:01AM GMT 15 Dec 2003

Arsenal (1) 1 Blackburn (0) 0

Arsenal last night hit top of the table without ever engaging top gear. Although the nation noted a familiar refrain, "1-0 to the Arsenal", and familiar sight, Arsene Wenger's side leading the Premiership, the pride of Highbury were never at their convincing best against a purposeful Blackburn Rovers team.

With Patrick Vieira surprisingly off-key and Thierry Henry off-target, Arsenal were reliant on Dennis Bergkamp's first home strike since May and some outstanding shielding of their goal by Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell and Jens Lehmann.

Flashes of genius occasionally flowed from the busy feet of Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg but the fact that Toure was comfortably the game's most accomplished performer signalled the time Arsenal spent on the back foot in the second half.

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"We couldn't take our chances," observed Wenger succinctly. "We dropped physically in the second half and we lost our domination. However, we gave an outstanding defensive performance." After a demanding, if productive, period which has seen his team prospering domestically and in Europe, Wenger will rest all of yesterday's starters for tomorrow's Carling Cup quarter-final against West Brom, though Lauren is "90 per cent" likely to feature.

Toure, seconded from centre-half, has been deputising admirably for Lauren at right-back and it was the lively Ivory Coast international who helped to settle the game, charging down the right to alarm Blackburn's defence in the 11th minute.

Rovers' left-back, Vratislav Gresko, tried to keep pace but clearly drew back from tackling Toure, having just been cautioned for fouling Ljungberg. Such hesitancy allowed Toure to cut the ball back from the byeline for Bergkamp to thread the ball through Andy Todd's legs and past Brad Friedel.

The goal triggered a spell of control by Arsenal, who really should have increased their lead, first through Pires, whose header was held by Friedel, then Vieira, who shot tamely wide, and finally Pires again, the Frenchman curling a marvellous shot against the post. Henry and Ljungberg went close either side of half-time but then Graeme Souness's clever tactical re-jig began to pay off for a revitalised Rovers.

Removing the nervy Gresko for the penetrative Steven Reid and moving the versatile Lucas Neill to left-back, Souness stiffened Blackburn's defence and gave them a greater attacking impetus. Only a fine tackle from Toure dispossessed the promising Paul Gallagher in the act of shooting as Rovers flowed forward. For a teenager, Gallagher shows an admirable awareness of his colleagues' movements.

Controversy reigned on the hour when Markus Babbel, leaping above Toure, headed in, only for Andy D'Urso to rule out the goal for climbing by Blackburn's German defender. "Markus Babbel is 6ft 3in," said Souness, "and doesn't need to use his arms to get above a player. It's how you see it. If that had happened in front of the North Bank, the Stretford End or the Kop for the home team, it might have stood."

Souness was more aggrieved by Pires. "Pires is such a superb player but he got two of our players booked and I feel that he goes to ground too easily," said the Blackburn manager, who even beckoned to Pires that he should pop over to the away dug-out to discuss the issue further. Pires wisely declined the invitation.

It was a compliment to Souness's side that Wenger began withdrawing attacking talent, like Bergkamp and Ljungberg, and introducing ball-winners like Ray Parlour and Edu, to safeguard the points. Blackburn still threatened; Barry Ferguson, who now looks more in tune with Premiership pace, laced a low left-footer at Lehmann which lacked the requisite power to beat the German. Dwight Yorke then shot over from close range. "We had most of the ball in the second half," Souness said.

"We've been to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and now Highbury and we've acquitted ourselves well in each place," he added.

But Arsenal, described by Souness as "the most exciting team going forward in the league", had the points thanks to a touch of class from Bergkamp, who has indicated his desire to extend his Highbury career beyond this season.

"I'm pleased to hear Dennis wants to go on," said Wenger. "He's an exceptional footballer. He has looked after his body and been rewarded by playing so well. He's looking sharper than last season." Where Arsenal excel is that if one star name fails to sparkle, others invariably do. The race continues.